Ski locking means



Se t. 13, 1966 B. RUMANER SKI LOCKING MEANS Filed May 18, 1964 INVENTOR. MERWIN B. RUMANER MGM GM United States Patent 3,272,526 SKI LOCKING MEANS Merwin B. Rumaner, 310 Albert Road, Syracuse, N.Y. Filed May 18, 1964, Ser. No. 368,042 Claims. (Cl. 280-1137) This invention relates generally to ski equipment, and has particular reference to a novel locking device for preventing the theft of skis and ski poles. More specifically, the invention is directed to a locking device that forms a part of the ski bindings and therefore is always readily available and convenient to use.

Along with the tremendous growth of the sport of skiing there has, unfortunately, been an increase in the thefts of expensive skis and ski poles. Such thefts usually occur when the skier leaves his skis and poles in one of the racks that are provided near ski lodges and goes inside to eat or get warm. To protect against these thefts, several ski locking devices have been developed but most of these have the disadvantage of including a part or parts that are heavy or cumbersome for the skier to carry around with him.

It is the primary object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a ski locking means which is incorporated in the ski bindings so that the skier has nothing extra to carry with him except for a small padlock used in conjunction with the locking means.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a ski locking device that is highly effective in protecting against theft of both skis and poles.

A further important object is to provide a ski locking device which is always readily available and convenient to use, the principal part of the device being at all times with the skis since it is incorporated in the bindings that are secured to the skis.

Still another important object is to provide an effective and convenient ski locking device that is relatively inexpensive to produce.

A still further important object is to provide a ski locking device that can be utilized to lock skis and poles to a car carrier as well as to a rack as well as to a rack in a ski area.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description thereof read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a representative embodiment of the invention for the purpose of disclosure.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, showing a locking device embodying the invention as used to secure skis and poles to a fixed ski rack;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary top plan view of a ski and a locking strap forming a part of the ski binding;

FIGURE 3 is a greatly enlarged top perspective View of the locking strap of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a greatly enlarged detail view showing the manner in which the reinforcing wire is secured to a grommet element.

Having reference now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers designate the same part in each of the views, and with particular reference to FIGURE 2, indicates a portion of a ski having a binding which includes a conventional toe piece 12 and an Arlberg strap 14, the latter being fixed to the ski as by an overlying flat plate 16 and screws 18. After the toe of the ski boot has been engaged with the toe piece, strap 14 is wrapped around the ankle portion of the boot in a well-known manner and fastened to itself to hold the boot heel down on the ski.

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In accordance with the invention, a portion of the strap 14 is also utilized in the locking device, the portion referred to being designated 14 and broadly comprising that portion of the strap to the left of plate 16 in FIGURE 2. Strap portion 14', which will also be referred to hereinafter as the locking strap, is provided with two or more grommet elements 20 at spaced apart points on the strap, the grommets forming holes through the strap for a purpose to be described.

.Locking strap 14 is comprised of a pair of strips 22, 24 of flexible material such as leather, one strip being superimposed on the other as shown in FIGURE 3. A fiexible wire member 26, preferably of braided. steel, is positioned between the strips 22, 24 and this wire is fixedly secured at each end to one of the grommetsZti. In securing the wire to the grommets the wire end is wrapped around the shank of the grommet and then twisted on itself as shown in FIGURE 5. The twisted end of the wire can also be soldered or brazed to insure an even stronger connection.

As indicated in FIGURE 5, the parts are assembled by passing the unflanged ends 20' of the grommets up through one of the strips and then positioned the wire ends (which can be looped, twisted and soldered in advance) around the grommet shanks. Thereafter, the other strip is positioned over the wire and engaged with the grommets, the ends 20 of which are then flanged or headed by conventional machine methods.

In assembling the parts as above described, the strips 22, 24 are permanently secured together on either side of the wire 26 as by a cementitious or adhesive material 28, FIGURE 4. In the alternative, the strips can be stitched together (not shown) adjacent the longitudinal edges thereof. With this arrangement, the wire forms an interior reinforcing means for the strap between the grommets 20, and when the strips 22, 24 are of leather or other opaque material the wire is completely concealed from view.

FIGURE 1 shows the manner in which the locking device of the invention can be used. -In this figure, 30 is the crossbar of a ski rack of the type usually found in ski areas, the crossbar being supported by suitable legs (not shown) that are driven into the ground. A pair of skis 10 is shown leaning against the rack, the skis having a binding including a locking strap 14 as shown in FIG- URES 2-4. The strap 14' is passed around the bar 30, through the hand loops 32 of ski poles 34 and back around the other ski so that the grommet 20 near the end of the strap is brought into register with the grommet located nearest the ski. The shackle of a small padlock 36 can then be passed through both grommets and snapped into locking position to secure the skis and poles to the fixed rack.

In FIGURE 1 locking straps 14' is shown as passing rather loosely around the skis and rack to simplify the disclosure of its manner of use. In actual practice, however, the strap will be pulled tight enough to prevent removal of the ski that is not secured to the strap. This can be accomplished, if necessary, by wrapping the strap around the skis more than once, or by passing it between as well as around the skis, and so forth. To the same end, the locking strap can be provided with additional grommets adjacent the grommet 20 to increase the number of possible registering grommet combinations.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that it is contemplated that only one ski in each pair will require a binding incorporating the locking device of the invention. In other words, in a set of Arlberg straps, long thongs or the like, only one strap in each set need incorporate the locking strap 14'.

While the locking device has been shown in connection with a ski rack, it will be apparent that it can be used as efiectively with other fixed objects such as trees or posts. In addition, the locking device can be used to secure skis and poles to a vehicle-mounted ski carrier.

As will be understood by those familiar with the art, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The embodiment disclosed is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative rather than restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a locking device for preventing the theft of a pair of skis: a flexible locking strap secured to one of the skis and comprising two strips of flexible material one overlying the other, means permanently securing said strips together to form the strap, a pair of grommet elements passing through said strips at spaced apart points on said strap, a flexible wire member disposed between said strips and fixedly secured at each end to one of said spaced grommet elements, the locking strap being adapted to be passed around the skis and a fixed object with a grommet element adjacent one end of the loop being brought into overlying relation to a grommet element adjacent the other end of the loop; and releasable means adapted to pass through said pair of grommet elements to lock them together.

2. In a locking device for preventing the theft of a pair of skis: a laminated locking strap forming a part of the bindings for the skis, said strap having grommet elements passing therethrough at spaced apart points on the strap so that the portion of the strap between a pair of elements can be passed around the skis and a fixed object and a padlock shackle passed through the pair of elements to secure the skis to the fixed object, said locking strap including two strips of flexible material one overlying the other, a braided wire lying between said strips and fixedly secured at each end to one of said grommet elements, and means permanently securing said strips together on either side of said wire.

3. A locking strap as defined in claim 2 wherein said strips of flexible material are of leather whereby said wire is concealed from view.

4. In a locking device for preventing the theft of a pair of skis: a flexible locking strap forming a part of the bindings for the skis and comprising a pair of relatively thin strips of flexible material one overlying the other, a pair of grommet elements passing through said strips at spaced apart points on said strap, a flexible braided wire disposed between said strips and fixedly secured at each end to one of said grommet elements, means permanently securing said strips together on either side of said wire whereby the latter forms an interior reinforcing means for the portion of said strap between said grommet elements, said strap portion being adapted to be passed around the skis and a fixed object so that the grommet element at one end thereof is brought into overlying registering relation to the grommet element at the other end of the strap portion; and a padlock the shackle of which is adapted to be passed through said registering grommet elements to secure the skis to the fixed object.

5. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein said strips of flexible material are of leather whereby the reinforcing wire disposed therebetween is concealed from view.

References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 226,705 7/ 1943 Switzerland. 248,233 1/ 1948 Switzerland. 250,089 5/ 1948 Switzerland.

BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

MILTON L. SMITH, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A LOCKING DEVICE FOR PREVENTING THE THEFT OF A PAIR OF SKIS: A FLEXIBLE LOCKING STRAP SECURED TO ONE OF THE SKIS AND COMPRISING TWO STRIPS OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL ONE OVERLYING THE OTHER, MEANS PERMANENTLY SECURING SAID STRIPS TOGETHER TO FORM THE STRAP, A PAIR OF GROMMET ELEMENTS PASSING THROUGH SAID STRIPS AT SPACED APART POINTS ON SAID STRAP, A FLEXIBLE WIRE MEMBER DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID STRIPS AND FIXEDLY SECURED AT EACH END TO ONE OF SAID SPACED GROMMET ELEMENTS, THE LOCKING STRAP BEING ADAPTED TO BE PASSED AROUND THE SKIS AND A FIXED OBJECT WITH A GROMMET ELEMENT ADJACENT ONE END OF THE LOOP BEING BROUGHT INTO OVERLYING RELATION TO A GROMMET ELEMENT ADJACENT THE OTHER END OF THE LOOP; AND RELEASABLE MEANS ADAPTED TO 